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TV5 signs GMA 7 director for David Archuleta mini-series

Director Mac Alejandre is now a Kapatid.

The former GMA 7 director signed a four-year exclusive contract for television with TV5 earlier Saturday, January 14, at Boracay 1 ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City. Present during the signing were TV5 executives Ray Espinosa, Bobby Barreiro, and Perci Intalan.

“It’s always nice to be part of a growing network. It’s always nice that you’re told that they feel na merong kang maico-contribute. At maganda maging bahagi ng mga nagsisimula,” Alejandre said in an interview with some members of the entertainment media after the contract signing.

Alejandre’s first show with TV5 will be the David Archuleta-starrer “Nandito Ako.”

Besides directing TV shows for the network, Alejandre will also be a talent development consultant for the network.

However, he said his contract for the Kapatid network is exclusively for television and he can do movies for any film outfits. In fact, he will direct “Just One Summer” with Elmo Magalona and Julie Anne San Jose for GMA Films this year.

A film and movie director for over 20 years, Alejandre started out  working for ABS-CBN and Viva and has been with GMA 7 since 1998. Recently, he did “Amaya” for GMA 7 and “Panday 2” for GMA Films and Imus Productions.

Growth

According to Alejandre, his desire for “growth” made him sign up with TV5.

“Sa palagay ko, mas magkakaroon ako ng magandang pagkakataon (sa TV5) upang makagawa ng naiiba sa mga nagawa ko na nung huling 20 years bilang director,” he explained.

He added, “Isang pagkakataon ito upang may magawa ako hindi lang bilang director kundi sa mga iba pang aspeto ng paggawa ng show dahil, I think, sa 13 years ko sa industriya, maaaring may natutunan akong ibang bahagi na maaari kong i-share.”

The move, the veteran director said, is strictly a professional decision and added he went through the “right process” before leaving GMA 7.

“Hindi ito isang desisyong personal. Wala itong kinalaman sa pagkakaibigan. Sa perception ko, sa pananaw ko, sa paniniwala ko, sa nasa puso ko, ito ang tamang hakbang tungo sa pagbabagong gusto kong maganap sa aking professional career,” Alejandre shared.

‘Great excitement’

From directing some of GMA 7’s highest-rating and most successful shows to starting over with what he describes as a growing network, wouldn’t Alejandre feel the pressure, ratings-wise?

“Ano ang gagawin ko para makatulong (sa ratings)? I will always do my best. I will do what I’ve been doing the last 20 years and hopefully I will have enough strength to do even more,” he said.

As for his first show with TV5, Alejandre said he welcomes “Nandito Ako” with “great excitement.” Besides David, he will also work with two of TV5’s home-grown artists, Eula Caballero and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

“It’s a very great challenge. It’s a wonderful challenge to do. It’s nice to be able to work with young stars of TV5,” Alejandre shared.
 
He added, “I think I have great passion for talent development.”

Besides the acting classes David did in Los Angeles, California before his arrival in the Philippines,  Alejandre said the 21-year-old “American Idol” finalist will have an acting workshop with Gina Alajar on Sunday, January 15.